The Miracle of Lazarus and Spiritual Rebirth

John 11.end
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July 13th 2014
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And when we come back, we’ll pick up the story of Lazarus being raised from dead in John chapter 11.

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Miracles and Transformations

Okay, well last week Jesus had called Lazarus forth from the grave after he had the people remove the stone that blocked the grave. Lazarus came out bound hand and foot (in grave clothes) and Jesus commanded them to “loose him” and let Him go. It was a miracle of miracles – the biggest in all of John's recordings but when we really think about it every miracle is truly the biggest isn’t it? Turning water into wine? What an amazing feat. And it was a feat of transformation, wasn’t it? Changing the water into the best wine – what a change. All of His healings were of the same caliber – taking something broken or wounded or diseased and making it whole. Giving sight to the blind, stopping twelve years of misery for a woman with the hemorrhaging issue and not only freeing her but returning her to a life of sociability. Here, in the case of Lazarus, he took a man who was deader than a doornail and raised Him to a new, and better life. And He told them to take the grave clothes off the man and to let him go – He was free. Obviously a picture of emancipation from being part of the spiritually dead to becoming a thriving member of the spiritually living.

I think the removing of the grave clothes is also significant. I mean imagine if Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead but Lazarus continued to wear the uniform of one who had died. He would have been like a mummy – walking and talking but still dressed in grave clothing. In the physical economy of the Old Testament the changing of apparel was a picture of moving from one state of affairs to another.

Symbolism of Changing Clothes

In Leviticus 6:11 we read about the Priest as it says: “And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place.” Psalm 30:11 adds: “Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness.” Changing clothes in the temple duties was common and frequent, symbolic of changing and adopting different activities according to what was demanded. We find the same picture or illustration in the parable of the Prodigal Son. Remember? When the Prodigal returns to his father and says: “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’” Imagine if the Father had received the son straight from the pig slop and threw him a party in the same clothes he had been wearing in his days of riotous living?

Imagine if Lazarus continued to wear his graveclothing after being healed? Imagine if a prison inmate, after serving his sentence, continued to wear his prison garb? Well all of these biblical (and non-biblical examples) are pictures of spiritual rebirth and renewed believers taking (or putting off) their former selves (or lives and behaviors) and adopting (or “putting on”) the new attitudes of a regenerated Christian). In other words, the taking off and putting on of apparel is a type for us today but in spiritual things.

Lessons from the Raising of Lazarus

In Ephesians 4:22-24 Paul said: “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” I suggest this is what we have a type for in the raising of Lazarus from a physical deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God. and then commanding he have his grave clothes removed. Yes, it was certainly practical and a request to remove his grave-clothes was entirely normal and contextual for the story, but almost everything that happens in the New Testament narrative has significance in the spiritual realm for believers today. As support for this listen to what Paul wrote to the believers at Colosse:

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate

Spiritual Characteristics in Christian Life

Affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

Elements of Christian Conduct

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

The Armor of God

Again, in Ephesians 6, Paul uses the act of arming a soldier for warfare as an illustration for Christian preparedness, saying: 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Finally, take note that in all of these illustrations, every single one relate in the Christian life to spiritual characteristics and none of them have anything to do with actual apparel or armor or ornamentation. In Ephesians 4:22-24 . . . 12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

From the Heart Outward

Ephesians 6 . . .having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

We tend to want to make religion external but it all begins from the heart and extends outward subjectively. Okay. So let’s read on and finish out the chapter.

So after Lazarus was raised and walked out, and was loosed (verse 45) John 11:45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. 46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. 47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. 48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. 49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. 51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. 53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death. 54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples. 55 And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves. 56 Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think

Observing Belief and Unbelief

57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.

Alright, back to verse 45 and 46 – two fascinating passages in my book:

45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. Obviously, right!? I mean, they were sitting around and mourning over the man’s death. For a couple of days at least. He was put in the grave! And these Jews came to mourn and watched as Jesus raised the Man from the grave! You’d think that all of Jerusalem would have believed and repented, right? But read the next verse!

46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. This always amazes me. But I am frankly amazed when some witness, say, the birth of a child and sense the very presence of God’s hand while others witness the same event and only see biology at work. There is an illustration I frequently use and I know that when it comes down to it there’s a reason for the outcome but still: “the same sun shines down on the clay, parts will soften and parts will harden – all under the same light and heat.” This seems to be the effect of God appearing and working in the lives of others – some grow soft and mallable while others just grow harder and immovable.

Light and Darkness

Rest assured, in the end every knee will bow – just as every knee could have bowed when Lazarus walked out of that tomb – but for whatever reason many believed on Jesus that day, but some ran and tattled on Him to the Pharisees. I am truly of the opinion that due to the work of Christ on earth, on the cross, and in overcoming sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace. and death, that every man, every woman, every child is gifted with Him in their souls. You recall that in John 1:9 we read, speaking of Jesus Christ that He was: “the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”

Back in Isaiah we read:

Isaiah 49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

John adds to the concept saying in 1st John 2:8 “Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.” So while the light “lights every man that comes into the world” some love the darkness more, and cannot (or will not) see – and so even in the presence of great miracles and wonders, they are blind. In this case these blind ones who were unable to see the light, ran to the religious rulers of the day. (verse 47)

The Response to Jesus' Miracles

47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council (this would have been a gathering known as the Sanhedrim), and said, “What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.”

They claimed the right of regulating all the affairs of religion and amazingly enough, they were concerned about that fact that Jesus was doing MIRACLES! What are we going to do in the face of all these miracles? Now, again, we can read this response in a couple of ways.

First, they were clear on the fact that He performed many miracles. You would think that alone would be enough for them to believe on Him as the Messiah. On the one hand we know that they were envious of Him (in fact we will read later that they killed Him for envy) and so they resented the fact that many were going to follow Him.

On the other hand it is possible that while they believe He was performing miracles they did NOT believe He was teaching people “good things” and therefore they could have assumed His miracles were being done by the power of darkness. In describing the end times Jesus Himself says in Matthew 24:24: “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

The Concerns of the Sanhedrin

Performed by magicians in Egypt (we can read about them in Exodus chapters 7 & 8 and in Deuteronomy 13:1).

The next verse seems to intimate that they were worried about their own place of power and influence being taken over by Him but it could have been that they actually thought His power and influence was not good and they needed to figure out some manner to sway the masses against Him. (verse 48)

48 “If we let him thus alone,” they said, “all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.”

When we think about his verse maybe they were right? IF they left Jesus alone, and He continued to move forward uncontested, all men would have believed on Him (in time) and the Romans would have come and taken away their power among the masses.

The Fear of Roman Intervention

There is an idea about the end times that says something to this effect. Had Jesus NOT been taken and killed He would have reigned seven full years, established His Kingdom here on earth, and reigned over the House of Israel as their Messiah and King. But three and a half years into His ministry His life was cut short, and all the promises and blessings made to Israel were lost from that point forward, and the Gospel then went out to the rest of the world.

Another consideration relative to the Sanhedrim council worried about Jesus was they could have been threatened by Him politically and were fearful that He was going to try and establish a temporal kingdom – (with Him as King) and this would have caused the Roman Government to swoop in upon them and put a stop to such insurrection. This was the charge that they at last arraigned him on before Pilate (according to Luke 23:2-3) and maybe this was the fear they were expressing. I would suppose that it was a big ugly hot mess of fear, envy, uncertainty and ignorance (maybe with a little cunning) that drove this situation.

49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, “Ye know nothing at all,

Caiaphas's Perspective

Okay, quickly, let me just touch on the fact that John says “Caiaphas was the high priest that same year.” Anciently a man was called to the a high-priest for life unless some act or conduct made him “unworthy” so to speak. If that was the case the incumbent was removed – and we can read about such an instance in the case of Abiathar being removed by Solomon in 1st Kings 2:27. Later on kings (especially when foreign conquerors came in and overtook Judea), claimed and exercised the right of removing the high-priest at will and so in this specific time of Roman rule the office was held for a relatively short period of time. History indicates that Caiaphas held the office for about ten years with one of them being when Jesus was on earth.

It seems the Sanhedrim was all up in arms over what to do with Jesus. We know that there were people that were part of the Sanhedrim that sided with the Lord (Nicodemus, for one). So maybe they were all bantering about what to do in this situation of the Miracle worker that taught revolutionary ideas. So what does Caiaphas say to them?

“Ye know nothing at all.”

In other words you are truly being fools in your deliberation and hesitation in this situation. He goes on (verse 50) and says:

50 “Nor consider” (nor have to considered) that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

Better put Caiaphus says, "It is far more profitable for us as a nation that one man should die for the people than the whole nation get wiped out by Roman rule or insurrectionists.”

Now, John gives us some really interesting insights into these words that Caiaphus said here.

Reading verse 50 we could easily say: “We’ll, all Caiaphus was saying was, “Dudes, it’s better we kill this guy than watch the rest of the nation get taken out because of Him.”

But John gives us another reason for Caiaphus saying what he said (verse 51)

51 And this spake he (Caiaphus) not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;

In other words, whether Caiphus intended it or knew it or not, he was the High Priest that year and his words

Prophetic Words and Redemption

Ought to be considered prophetic – Jesus was going to die for the nation! Caiaphus, by all intents, seems to have been plotting the murder of the Lord but John clearly tells us that the words He was saying were not his own (“And this he spake not of himself,”) but what could only be interpreted as by inspiration.

There is another instance where this occurs in the Gospels that came to me. When Jesus was hanging on the cross the Jewish rulers and chief priests, mockingly said: “He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.” The irony, the eternal wisdom of their mocking words delivered so cruelly being absolutely true – “if He had saved Himself, He would not have saved others.”

I suppose we don’t have to say much about what Caiaphus says here. John makes it clear that he, being the high priest, had prophesied something that was true. I don’t think we need to believe that he was prophesying like a prophet but had simply spoken a future truth – evil as his intentions were.

The Gathering of the Scattered

Then listen to what John adds, which I believe he added to give better dimension to the work of Christ Jesus. He says (in verse 52)

52 And not for that nation only (did Jesus die), but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

Jesus said back in chapter 10:16

“And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”

Here, John tells us that the Lord did NOT die for that Nation only, BUT (listen)

“that ALSO he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.”

Complex Communications

So we have some rather complex communications going on here. Caiaphus, meaning to speak evil, stated prophetically that it was “beneficial for one man to die for the nation,” (meaning the Nation of Israel only). But John points out that His death would not only cover the Nation of Israel but so that He “also should gather into one the children of God that were scattered abroad.” This “gathering” has been happening since Cornelius and his family, the first gentile converts to Christianity, received the Holy Spirit.

I would suggest that put simply, all people have the light of Christ, His gift within them, that the Holy Spirit moves in accordance with the mind and will of God and that the Father seeks for those who worship Him in Spirit and in Truth and these make up those who are being gathered into one along with all who came before and all who will come after.

(Beat)

53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

Caiaphus had given the word, and they were now preparing on how to do it, how to take Him, when to take Him, who to get involved, and what charges they could lay at His feet.

I do not believe God for a minute forced these men to act this way. By His foreknowledge He simply used their hearts, which had been prepared by centuries of religiousity, to do what their hearts would naturally do to bring about His will and divine plan of redemption. (verse 54)

54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.

It is believed that Ephraim was a small town about five miles west of Jericho.

55 And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.

Audience Insights

Now, we get an insight into the audience to whom John was writing by this passage. Where Matthew wrote specifically to Jews John seems to have written to non-Jews, that’s why he says things like: “And the Jew’s Passover.” And he says that many of the Jews went out of the country and up to Jerusalem to prepare for the Holy day by purifying themselves (which was done according to the Law detailed in Leviticus 22:1-6).

And let me tell you, to an orthodox Jew there were all sorts of hoops to leap through if you got yourself “unclean.” For instance, if a person accidentally touched a dead body, or an open sepulchre or the bones…

Jesus and the Law

Of the dead, they had to be sprinkled on the third and seventh days, by a clean person, with hyssop dipped in water mixed in the ashes of the red heifer. And then all this had to be done to their clothes too!

I would have made a terrible Jew. I would have first been obsessed with keeping every jot and tittle. Then I would have gotten really mean and judgmental of anyone who did not have the same passion. Then I would have gotten depressed. Then I would have given up on all of it completely. Then I would have challenged all of it. And then I would have been stoned to death. God knew the type to make His people – and the McCraney’s will never be anything but gentiles.

The Jews and Jesus

So, speaking of some of the Jews who went up to be purified.

56 Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, “What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?”

In other words, it was required by law that all males should come and yet on the other hand He was in great danger at this point. This seems to be the cause of the discussion about whether He would show up or not. John adds to the whole drama by adding:

57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.

The heat was turned on high. People were talking, wondering. News of Jesus' latest miracle was out – He actually brought forth a man who had laid death in the tomb for four days! Now the “brethren” were out to get Him. “Do you think He’ll show?” they asked each other.

(beat)

Conclusion of Chapter 11

That’s ends chapter 11. In chapter 12, after John tells us a story about Jesus going to Bethany six days before the Passover, we will read about the Lord choosing to attend the Passover, according to Law. He was obedient in every point of the Law. His entry into the city of David is known as His Triumphal entry. It is the beginning of the end of the mortal life of our Lord.